Laurel’s Substack

Summer in the Garden

These are the hot high days of summer, when I should be doing more to rescue my nasturtiums from whitefly and picking beans everyday, but sometimes, you…

Aug 1 • Laurel S. Peterson

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July 2026

Join me tomorrow night for poetry!

I‘ll be on YouTube tomorrow night with Katie Schneider and the Northeast Coast Press at 8 PM talking about my newest poetry collection, Charlene!

Jul 29 • Laurel S. Peterson

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THE JOY OF SPOKEN WORD

“perhaps it is easier for me to think of the violence in this way, not as/ senseless but as a sacrifice to a darker god//one as bronze as we are/ a…

Jul 1 • Laurel S. Peterson

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June 2026

NO, REALLY: WHY WOULD ANY WOMAN WANT TO BE A TRADWIFE?

I came of age in the early 1980s, when sexual harassment in the workplace was called “kidding around” and date rape was just being named.

Jun 1 • Laurel S. Peterson

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May 2026

IN SEARCH OF QUIET

Growing up my home was quiet—maybe in a good way, maybe not.

May 1 • Laurel S. Peterson

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April 2026

ON THE VALUE OF LIFE’S FRICTIONS

Recently I came across an article in the New York Times, titled “Boy Kibble,” about a dish that young men are apparently making that is “a mess of veg…

Apr 1 • Laurel S. Peterson

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March 2026

ON TECHNOLOGY, TRAUMA AND COUSINS

Events List as End! Check it out!

Mar 1 • Laurel S. Peterson

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February 2026

DEAR PROFESSOR: WHY DO I NEED TO LEARN ABOUT METAPHORS AND SYMBOLS?

(List of great local events at the end!)

Feb 1 • Laurel S. Peterson

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January 2026

HOLDING ON. LETTING GO.

Today, we bought a new car.

Jan 1 • Laurel S. Peterson

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December 2025

ON REJECTION AND SALLY MANN

One of the things you’re supposed to learn in school—particularly grad school—particularly MFA programs—is how to take criticism.

Dec 1, 2025 • Laurel S. Peterson

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November 2025

October 2025

I’M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE

My new book, The Sky Weeps with Us, will be released by Finishing Line Press in January 2025.

Oct 1, 2025 • Laurel S. Peterson

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